Cannabis Connection Dispensary in West Springfield MA

Cannabis Connection, first in town

For years, West Springfield had no place to buy legal cannabis. Then, in March 2024, Cannabis Connection Dispensary in West Springfield MA opened its doors on Riverdale Street and became the town’s first adult-use dispensary. The shop at 1102 Riverdale Street, Unit 2, sits right on one of the busiest shopping strips in western Massachusetts, so it is easy to fold into a day of errands.

The store describes itself as “a trusted cannabis dispensary serving West Springfield, Massachusetts,” and says it is “Built around consistency, quality, and a straightforward customer experience.” Here is how it got here and what you need to know before you go.

Open since March 2024

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission lists 1102 Riverdale Street as an active, licensed adult-use cannabis retailer, open since March 4, 2024.

A long road to Riverdale Street

West Springfield took its time with cannabis. The town had banned recreational marijuana stores, and it reversed that decision in July 2022. Mayor Will Reichelt then put out a request for proposals and formed a five-person committee to review the companies that applied. In March 2023, Western Mass News reported the two finalists. “The two finalists are going to be Cannabis Connection out of Westfield and Fine Fettle out of Connecticut,” Reichelt said.

Cannabis Connection already had a store in Westfield, where it had been that city’s first dispensary too. Its founding team, CEO Thomas Keenan and Curt Gezotis, had been working toward a West Springfield shop for a long time. Keenan began working on the project in 2018, the year recreational sales started in Massachusetts, according to Western Mass News.

From a car lot to a cannabis shop

The building has a past. The Reminder reported in May 2023 that the store would go into “what used to be Auto Credit Express” at 1102 Riverdale St. After the Planning Board granted a special permit, the co-owners hosted a community meeting on May 11, 2023, to share their plans.

The numbers were interesting. The space totals 4,100 square feet, with a 1,600-square-foot sales floor, and the owners told The Reminder that “more than half of that is secure storage.” They planned to employ 30 to 40 people, with about half expected to come from West Springfield. They expected “200-400 customers a day,” with quick transactions of four to six minutes, and Gezotis did not expect much new traffic, since most shoppers would already be out visiting other Riverdale Street businesses.

Security was covered, too. The owners described state rules that call for “computerized tags on every piece of merchandise” and “video surveillance of every part of the store.” Keenan also pointed to the record at the Westfield store: “We’ve had a great working relationship with the police department there.”

Opening week

The doors finally opened on a Friday in March 2024. Ahead of the big day, WWLP reported that online orders would open on Thursday night. “We could not be happier to be the first adult-use cannabis store to open in West Springfield,” Keenan told the station. He said the company wanted to bring “regulated, tested cannabis products for adults” to the city and to help educate customers.

Opening day felt like a milestone. “I’m feeling great. It’s been such a long trip and it’s very rewarding to finally get to this point,” Keenan told Western Mass News. “The community has been accepting and great so far.”

Mayor Reichelt came out for the opening, too. He had pushed for retail sales from the start, and he said the old worries from around 2018, “like the marijuana zombies are going to be outside, never came to fruition.” His take on the whole process: “Thankfully, my council saw the value in it and I think the community as well.”

A new chapter

The Reminder reported in July 2026 that Cannabis Connection had changed ownership. The founders opened both the Westfield and West Springfield shops, and the West Springfield store remains open on Riverdale Street with the same address and phone number.

Easy to find, easy to shop

Location is one of this store’s best features. Its blog says it sits “just 420 yards off exit 10B, directly across from the Riverdale Shops.” That puts it in the middle of the Riverdale Street corridor, so you can pair a dispensary stop with groceries, dinner or a car errand.

Inside, the store says “The in-store experience is designed to feel approachable and efficient.” Cannabis Connection has always put education first. “Education and customer choice are what makes Cannabis Connection stand apart from other MA dispensaries,” its About page says, and it invites shoppers to “Let our courteous and knowledgable staff help you find the cannabis products to suit your needs.”

What’s on the menu

Cannabis Connection West Springfield stocks the full range of adult-use categories:

Flower
Pre-rolls
Vapes
Edibles
Concentrates
Tinctures
Accessories

The store says “Products are sourced from licensed Massachusetts brands, ensuring consistency, safety, and transparency.” Its blog mentions carrying 80+ brands, so there is plenty to explore. Deals change often, so check the specials page before you head over.

Order ahead for same-day pickup

No appointment is needed. You can walk in, or browse the online menu and reserve your order for pickup. Reserved orders are for same-day pickup, and online ordering closes 30 minutes before the store closes.

Cannaversary fun

Cannabis Connection West Springfield knows how to throw a birthday party. To celebrate its one-year Cannaversary, the store promised “a day full of special deals, fun games, exciting prizes, exclusive merch, and vendor pop-ups,” with representatives from some of the brands it carries on hand. Watch the blog for the next celebration.

Giving back on the West Side

The store’s Cannaversary post says it hires staff from nearby towns and lists support for two local causes: the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Shelter and the Parish Food Cupboard. It is a nice reminder that a neighborhood shop can be a good neighbor, too.

Big E tips from the Cannabis Connection blog

Every September, the Eastern States Exposition draws huge crowds to West Springfield for 17 days. Cannabis Connection wrote a handy guide for fairgoers, since the store is “located just ten minutes from the fairgrounds.” Its tips work for any busy weekend in town:

Go on a weekday. Fair crowds are heaviest on weekends, so a weekday visit means lighter lines.
Time your stop. “Stopping at our dispensary in the late afternoon or evening can help you avoid the heaviest fair traffic.”
Bring your ID. You need a “valid government-issued ID” showing you are 21 or older.
Ask questions. Budtenders are there to guide you.
Keep it legal. The guide reminds readers that “cannabis cannot be consumed on the fairgrounds.” Enjoy your purchase in a private, legal setting.

Plan your visit

Address. 1102 Riverdale Street, Unit 2, West Springfield, MA 01089, across from the Riverdale Shops.

Hours. Monday through Saturday, 9am to 9pm. Sunday, 10am to 8pm.

Phone. (413) 420-7287.

Paying. “We accept cash, debit, and DutchiePay payments,” the store says, and there are multiple ATMs on site.

Bring your ID. A government-issued ID showing you are 21 or older, with your date of birth, photo and expiration date. The store accepts a U.S. driver’s license or state ID, a U.S. passport or passport card, a U.S. military ID, or a firearms License to Carry. Temporary IDs are not accepted, and no medical card is needed.

House rules. No consumption anywhere at the store, including the parking lot.

Massachusetts cannabis basics

Here are the state rules from the Cannabis Control Commission:

Age. 21 or older, with a government-issued ID for every retail purchase.
Carrying. Up to two ounces in public.
At home. Up to 10 ounces, and anything over two ounces must be locked up.
Where to use it. Not in public places and not on federal land.
In the car. No open containers in the passenger area. Use a closed container in the trunk or a locked glove compartment, and never drive under the influence.
State lines. It is illegal to take cannabis out of Massachusetts, and it cannot be mailed.

Your first visit, step by step

Check the menu. Browse online and peek at the specials.
Reserve if you like. Order for same-day pickup, at least 30 minutes before closing.
Bring the right ID. A valid, non-temporary government ID showing you are 21 or older.
Talk to the staff. Tell them what you are looking for and let them help you choose.
Pay your way. Cash, debit or DutchiePay, with ATMs on site.

Make a day of it in West Springfield

West Springfield is a Hampden County town of 28,835 people (2020 census), on the west bank of the Connecticut River and the north side of the Westfield River. When it was incorporated on February 23, 1774, its land also took in what are now Agawam and most of Holyoke. Agawam broke off as its own town in 1855, and Holyoke in 1850. West Springfield adopted a city form of government in 2000 but still keeps “Town of” in its official name.

History buffs have plenty to see. The Josiah Day House, built around 1754, is believed to be the oldest brick saltbox house in the United States, and the Ramapogue Historical Society runs tours. The Town Common, laid out in 1866 between Park Street and Park Avenue, is a classic New England green. The first bridge over the Connecticut River opened here in 1805, and today’s Memorial Bridge opened in 1922.

Riverdale Street is the town’s big shopping corridor, lined with big-box stores and car dealerships. It is also home to a local classic: the Donut Dip has been on Route 5 since 1957, so you can grab a treat on the same street as your dispensary run.

Need some fresh air? Bear Hole is about 1,700 acres of woods with a shallow reservoir, where Mass Audubon and the state Department of Conservation and Recreation bought a conservation easement in 2021. On the west side of town, the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail crosses East Mountain and the Provin Mountain ridgeline.

Getting around is simple. U.S. Route 5 runs along Riverdale Street and Interstate 91 cuts through the northeast part of town. PVTA buses serve West Springfield, and Amtrak trains stop just across the river in Springfield.

Why Cannabis Connection West Springfield is worth the stop

It was the first dispensary on the West Side, it took years of work to get here, and it still keeps things simple: a clean, approachable store, staff who answer questions, same-day pickup and a spot right on Riverdale Street. Whether you are running errands, grabbing a donut or heading to the fair, Cannabis Connection West Springfield is an easy stop.

Cannabis is for adults 21 and over. Please consume responsibly.